Durga Puja 2020: CM Mamata Banerjee issues SOP, cancels all cultural programmes this year

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday anunced guidelines for Durga Puja festival and requested all organisers to keep pandals open from all four sides for proper ventilation. CM also cancelled grand Durga Puja Carnival and all cultural programs ahead of  upcoming Durga Puja in view of ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

While anuncing safety protocols, Banerjee said that puja committee must provide sanitisers to all those people who will visit pandals and keep masks handy to give those who are t wearing it. Wearing a face mask is compulsory to all people visiting pandal, she said. Adding furr she said that organising cultural programs at pandals won’t be allowed this year. 

Chief Minister anunced that “Durga Puja Carnival will t be organised this year". "Cultural programs inside pandals are also t allowed in this year’s celebration", she added.

Mamata Banerjee furr anunced that Durga Puja committees will get Rs 50,000 each as a grant from state government and 80,000 hawkers will receive a one-time grant of Rs 2000 ahead of Puja. Durga Puja is one of biggest festivals celebrated in West Bengal and week-long festivities will begin in state from October 22.

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Here’s list of Dos and Don’ts for Durga Puja 2020

1. cultural programmes allowed this year during Durga puja.
2. Face masks are compulsory for all while visiting Durga Puja pandals. Hand sanitizers should be available at all entry and exit points.
3. Organisers must keep more volunteers to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are being maintained. Banerjee also asked volunteers to wear face shields mandatorily.
4.  Keep sufficient slots for rituals like 'anjali' and 'sindoor khela'
5. Anuncement of  mantras on mic so that people can hear it from faraway places and playing of mantras batch-wise.
6. During immersion, slots to be given to puja pandals to avoid garing. Single window permission for Durga Puja will begin on October 2.
7. fire brigades will t take any fees, Kolkata Municipal Corporation fees (KMC), CESC (electricity) fees 50 per cent free for Durga Puja pandals.
8. Public anuncement systems must be put in place at every pandal. Show Durga Puja virtually on large screens and anunce prize on virtual platform.

READ | Mamata anunces grant of Rs 50,000 to each Durga Puja committee of Bengal

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